Flotation reagent



Patented Feb. 2, 1937 PATENT OFFICE FLOTATION REAGENT Royal S. Handy, Kellogg, Idaho N Drawing.

Application September 20, 1935,

Serial No. 41,423

, '2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in conditioning agents adapted for use in the flotation of ore, and this application is a continuation in part of my application filed July 18, 1934, Serial No. 735,862, for improvement in Concentration of ores.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a conditioning agent or compound which also acts and functions as a frothing agent.

A further object is to provide a conditioning agent that is highly eificient in serving to activate and float the oxide ore particles after the sulphide ore particles have been frothed ofi.

A very special object is to provide a conditionthe soda ash solution is added too rapidly, the whole compound will. froth'in an objectionable manner. I next stir in a tenpercent solution of sodium silicate, in water, which forms an amber jelly, the latter being the reagent. For convenience, I use this reagent in a ten percent emulsion in water.

I will next give specific examples of assays re sulting from the use of this compound.

A sample of an oxide lead ore, composed prin cipally of iron oxide and lead carbonate (cerussite) was ground with water in a laboratory rodmill to pass one hundred meshfand the ground pulp was diluted with water and deflocculated 5 ing agent that is especially efficient in floating by the addition of sodium silicate to the pulp, in oxide ore particles in a pulp from which the the proportion of 2 pounds per ton of ore. The natural colloids have been deflocculated or reliquid containing the natural colloidal matter moved. thus separated from the crystalline matter, was

In the most preferred form of the invention, my removed by decantation and the residual crystal- 20 improved oxide conditioning and frothing comline matter was diluted to 40% solids, with water.

pound consists of a frothing agent of cresylic acid The resulting sands were floated by the addition and a conditioning agent of oleic acid, and these of a quantity of my improved compound, in the are combined with soda ash and sodium silicate proportion of two pounds per ton of ore, with to make them miscible with one another, and with the following results:

26 water. Physically, the compound is in the form of Assay 1 a jelly, of amber color, which is miscible but not soluble in water. I

The main function of the soda ash is to sapon- Product Percent g i f of ify the oils, and the, sodium silicate homogenizes ea 0 8 ea 30 the mass. As stated, the primary function of C t te 1 658 23096 85 9 this improved compound in a flotation process is men to float the oxide minerals, as distinguished from ;?i g sf? ii 31( 31%;: 312 the sulphide minerals, and in this connection, it ishighly useful in floating carbonates," such as ce- Total 10M 26' 917 mo 36 russite, rhodochrosite, malachite; oxides, such as cassiterite mule; tungstates such as Scheente A Bohvian ore containing cassiterlte was treatwolframite; sulphates, such as anglesite, barite; ed as follows? chlorides, such as halite; sylvite; fluorides, such A :sample wasrgmund to pass one hundred mesh ascryolite and fluorite; and native metals such as 5126 and the ground pulp f deflocculated 40 gold, Silver and copper with sodium silicate and decollolded by decantaone specific composition of my improved tion. The resulting sands were floated with this pound, which is previously prepared before being compound and the mugher cfimcentrat-e was added to the pulp, consists of the following incleaned with the following result gredients: Assay 2 Percent by we ht Oleic acid 57,; Product wa f f Units tin $31 Cresylic acid 28.7 Soda ash Concentrate 14.7 50.40 7.405 92.4

Sodium silica 7.1 Gleaner tailings 17.9 3.13 .561 7.0

While the improved compound is efiective ir- Taflings n 67.4 0.07 .046 0'6 respective of the specific percentages previously Total mo set forth, to which I 'do not wish to be limited, I

have found in actual practice that it is far more emcient if compounded in a manner which I shall next set forth.

The cresylic acid and oleic acid are mixed together and I next stir slowly into this mixture a ten percent solution of soda ash in water. If

floated with this compound to produce a wolframite concentrate, which was cleaned.

The result follows;

Assay 3 Percent Assay Contents Pmdu Wt. wo, units wo. Tmlwo' sulphide ooncentrate.- 2. 00 0. 0. 010 0. 7 Woliramite concentrate" l. 85 69. 00 l. 275 84. l Cleaner tailings ll. 40 0. 73 0. (B4 5. 5 T 80. 15 0. 08 0. 064 4. 2 4. l. 78 0. (B2 5. 5

Total 100.00 1. 51 1. 615 100. 0

A sample of an oxide ore containing free gold was ground to pass 48-mesh in size, and the ground pulp was deflocculated and de-colloided by decantation. The resulting sands were floated with this compound and the concentrate was cleaned once by flotation.-

The result follows:

slimed pulp, yet its use is not necessarily confined to such pulps, particularly with respect to the flotation of gold and reluctant sulphides.

The following test is a case in point and the reagent has been used in this manner in commercial operations with very great success.

The sample was ground to pass one hundred mesh in the presence of GNS oils No. 25 and 28, and the sulphides were floated with the addition of 0.2 lb. per ton of ethyl xanthate. A second sample was treated in an identical manner, except that after the sulphides had been floated to completion by this treatment. the compound was added in the proportion of 0.3 lb. per ton, and additional sulphides were floated. The concentrates were cleaned by flotation and the result follows:

It is believed that the difference in the gold content of the two above tailings is due to the flotation of the reluctant sulphides by the use of this improved compound. Therefore, this compound is of great value in floating such minerals as sulphides, which are reluctant to float under favorable sulphide flotation, doubtless by reason of the formation of an oxide fllm, although I have been able to float such minerals as rusty" native gold, which is very reluctant to float.

It is believed that the nature and function of my improved compound will be fully understood from the foregoing description, but I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim:

1. As a new and useful product of the class described, a compounded conditioning and frothing reagent for flotation treatment of oxide ore, comprising, oleic acid, cresylic acid, soda ash and sodium silicate, thoroughly mixed and in the form of a water miscible jelly.

2. As a new and useful product of the class described, a compounded conditioning and frothing reagent for flotation treatment of oxide ore, comprising, oleic acid 57.1% by weight, cresylic acid 28.7% by weight, soda ash 7.1% by weight, and sodium silicate 7.1% by weight, thoroughly mixed and in the form of a jelly that is miscible in water in any proportion.

ROYAL S. HANDY. 

